Tranny Rock God John Cameron Mitchell at the Victoria Theatre

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Hed-heads rejoice! Put on some make-up, turn up the eight-track and get out the wig - John Cameron Mitchell's coming to town. The playwright, director and star of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inchwill be on stage live and in person at The Victoria Theatre next week, singing and discussing the total awesomeness of his 2001 film.

Mitchell’s off-Broadway, gender-bending rock musical turned award-winning indie film has become a cult phenomenon. The tranny shock and rock material (the story of a transsexual rock singer whose botched sex change operation leaves him with the aforementioned "angry inch") might sound unsavory to some shrinky violet types. (“My sex change operation got botched; my guardian angel fell asleep on the watch; now all I got is a Barbie doll crotch; I've got an angry inch,” shriek-rocks Hedwig, before moshing over the crowd.) But as angry, racy and transexually transgressive as Hedwig is, he's actually one of the most charming, sympathetic and loveable characters ever to spit bitter bile and throw beer bottles.


Sometimes compared to “The Rocky Horror Show,” mostly because of its outrageous, tranny rock and shock similarities, Hedwig is actually a film of enormous humanity and some really terrific music. The score, written by Stephen Trask, stands alone as mighty fine music in the vein of early David Bowie or Lou Reed.

For four nights next week, Mitchell will perform songs from the show. He will offer commentary on Hedwig on February 14 and 15 and on his 2006 film, Shortbus, on February 13 and 14.

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